"This isn't what I expected," SJ said.
"And what did you expect?" Carlito asked, smirking.
"I have no idea, to be honest. It's just, I suppose, knowing you are a dragonling, not this."
"So you believed I lived in a dark, damp cave or similar?" Carlito laughed.
SJ could feel her cheeks redden, and she squirmed uncomfortably at his comment. "No. Not at all. I just...I don't know what I expected."
"I spend ninety-nine per cent of my time in a humanoid form. It would be rather remiss of me not to have somewhere comfortable to stay."
The room did indeed look comfortable.
"I see you have one of my kin with you," Carlito said, looking at Kibble.
At first, Kibble looked at Carlito warily, almost shying away from him. Then, Carlito stood from his chair and stepped towards SJ. He raised his hand palm upwards, and SJ watched in amazement as it changed colour and shape, covering itself in mottled green scales. Kibble leaned forward from SJ's shoulder until Carlito's hand was level with him. He then sniffed it cautiously before lowering his head in an almost bowing manner.
SJ just watched the interaction in amazement as Carlito withdrew his hand, and it returned to its elven form.
"Please. Take a seat," Carlito indicated towards one of the sofas.
SJ did as instructed. She had never expected to be invited to Carlito's home, and the fact that she was now in it was a little disconcerting. Due to Carlito's class and skills, even though she knew he couldn't harm her directly, she still felt nervous. Every time they had met previously, they had been in public spaces. Even when they met at the park, although alone, it was still an open space. Within the four walls of his room, SJ felt uneasy. Kibble, on the other hand, made himself at home, jumping from her shoulder onto a large cushion and pummeling it before curling up.
"Can I get you a drink?" Carlito moved to a drinks cabinet, opened it and removed two crystal glasses. He then lifted a bottle containing a purple liquid and poured some into one glass.
"Do you have honey wine?" SJ asked.
"Unfortunately, no. I do have some nectar, though." Carlito replaced the bottle he had removed and picked up another containing a brilliant golden liquid. Then, he switched the crystal glass he had removed and replaced it with what could only be a shot glass. He uncorked the bottle, and a lovely scent permeated the room.
Carlito walked to where SJ sat and handed her the tiny glass before he sat on the sofa opposite. "I have been told that you should only sip nectar; it is the closest to honey wine that I have. If it's not to your liking, I can ask Poppy to get a bottle from the bar."
SJ lifted the glass to her lips and took a tiny sip. The liquid was sickly sweet but absolutely delicious. As she held it in her mouth, she felt it give off an intense heat, similar to dwarven brandy. It was only when she swallowed it that she began to cough as the heat hit the back of her throat.
Once she had stopped coughing, she replied. "That's got a kick."
Carlito was laughing at the effect it had on her.
"Can I ask why you wanted me to come back here and to see me?" SJ asked.
"We have something to discuss," Carlito said as he downed the purple liquid he was drinking before refilling his glass. SJ had placed her glass down on a table next to the sofa.
"What did you wish to discuss?"
"Why aren't you level twenty yet, and what skills are you going to choose? I am interested in hearing your justification for your progress. It has been a long time since I had the option to select skill choices."
"Have you not levelled recently?"
"Ha. I am a dragonling. My levelling doesn't follow the path of a normal being. The experience gained that many require is a pittance compared to myself. I require almost a hundredfold."
"What?" SJ asked in shock. "You mean a hundred times more experience needed per level. That's insane."
"It isn't as though I am in a rush to level."
"I know so little about dragonlings."
"Not many do know about us or our life spans," he smiled.
"Would you mind telling me how old you are?"
"Now that we are better acquainted, I will divulge some details. I am currently just a couple of days over nine hundred years old."
SJ's mouth dropped open in absolute astonishment at his statement. She was lost for words.
"Asterfal has been my home now for over two centuries. Before that, I spent a few centuries travelling around various race capitals; I even spent a century travelling to other continents but ended up coming back here."
"You have lived here for over two hundred years?"
"Give or take a few. I don't really pay much attention to time unless it is related to quests. I only know my age from my display; otherwise, I would have forgotten it centuries ago."
"You must have seen much change over your time here."
"I have. Both good and bad. Over the last hundred years, the city has become overcrowded in many areas, and I classify the service that I provide as a means to control the population. There are so many rats in this city which deserve to be ended."
"Have you always lived at the Griffin?"
"No. I only moved to the Griffin thirty years ago. I have lived in various areas of the city and own properties in most districts. I like the Griffin for its mixed clientele and the information that it holds. The poorest to the wealthiest come through the doors of the Griffin to watch the fights, and there is a wealth of news readily available. There is always a set of loose lips wanting to tell their tale to a willing barperson wishing to listen."
SJ still didn't understand why Carlito was so open with her about his life. She supposed he rarely got the chance to talk to someone about who he actually was.
"I must admit that I would love to see your true form."
"Unfortunately, if I transformed into my dragon form in this room, I would damage many of my possessions; there really isn't sufficient room," Carlito smiled.
"I am still not sure why you have invited me to your home today?"
"As I already mentioned, I wish to discuss your progress in more detail. There is another matter I wish to discuss with you. That is where something rather interesting comes to light," Carlito paused dramatically.
"Such as?"
Carlito smiled as he continued, "I was rather surprised this morning to receive a letter. It was specifically addressed to me by name and hand-delivered at the bar."
"They left a letter for you with Carlito on it? That means someone knows you live here. Isn't that a worry?"
"It would have been if they had addressed it to Carlito, but they didn't. It was addressed in my dragonling name."
SJ scrunched her face, "So your name isn't Carlito?"
"It is the name that this iteration of my being goes by currently. My dragonling name is not known by anyone in the city. That is what surprised me so much when I received the letter."
"So, who was it from?" SJ was intrigued by the path the conversation had taken.
"This is where it gets fascinating indeed. I have never had any dealings with them, and although I know of them, I didn't realise that they knew of me. It wasn't just that which surprised me, and I haven't been surprised like this in centuries, I may add. It was also that they knew exactly where I live and your involvement with me. It was the letter's content that really surprised me."
"You still haven't said who it was from."
Carlito stood and walked to the desk he had been sitting at when she entered the room. He lifted a rolled parchment from it and walked back to the sofa, leaning over and handing it to SJ. "Here, you may read it. There is nothing to hide."
SJ took the parchment and unrolled it, allowing her to read its contents. The parchment was written in common, with soft, flowing strokes of a quill.
To my kin Fasquiliatieousacidulum,
I hope that my communication finds you well. It has been a long time since I scribed a letter, so I only wish it is eligible for you. I am contacting you because I am aware that you have taken under your service a dear friend of mine. She is like a part of me, and I would wish for you to 'ensure' that you always take good care of her and support her growth and development as her Guardian. She has a vital role in Amathera's future.
I have enclosed a small gift for your time.
Please pass on my regards to SJ.
Kindest Regards,
Brotuliosteryiweqmanprubloreb - Ruler of the Northern Territories
SJ was speechless as Dave whistled in her mind. She had only ever spoken to Bob that one time in the pasture when he had given her a drop of his blood. At no point had she communicated with anyone else about her visit with him outside of Nexis. None of her friends even knew she had dragon blood flowing in her veins.
"Now that is a turn-up for the books," Dave said.
'You're telling me,' SJ thought. 'It has to be Nexis who has told him about what I am doing in Asterfal.'
"I would guess so, but he is an ancient dragon, and I have no idea how far their wings spread."
"I'm a little lost for words," SJ said.
"As was I. However, this does indeed confirm my suspicions over why I am unable to harm you and that you survived the poisoning. I am aware now that you do have the blood of an ancient dragon in you. Not just an ancient dragon but one of the known rulers of our kind."
SJ was churning from the revelation, her cheeks glowing, and she reached for the nectar, taking a larger sip than she meant to. Once her coughing fit had stopped again, she spoke.
"Yes. I do. I had no idea that Bob was a ruler of dragons in general."
Carlito smiled at the name Bob. "Brotuliosteryiweqmanprubloreb is highly revered within our kin. He has always been a beacon of neutrality, bringing balance across our race, and he is one of the great three. My kind of dragonkin is shunned by several dragon races and classed as halfbreeds, particularly within the whites, but the great three keep balance and ensure that all dragon kind is represented."
"Who are the other two?" SJ was intrigued to hear more about the dragonkin.
"The eldest and wisest of our kind is the Queen of the Isle. She rules the Isle of Vistok in the Argassi Sea, and then there is the Lord of Lava. He is the ruler of the volcanic peninsula at the south of the continent of Caslitythiam."
"I have heard of the island in the Argassi Sea but never the other continent."
"It is the furthest continent from here. It takes a few months for land-based beings to travel there over land and sea."
"The Lord of Lava is an ancient red dragon. I think he is over eight thousand years old, and the Queen of the Isle is a platinum dragon, and she is rumoured to be over ten thousand years old," Dave said.
Both were older than SJ's expected life span if she lived to her full potential of seven thousand plus years. The change in circumstances brought by this letter blew her mind.
"Have you been to either of the places?" SJ asked.
"I have visited Vistok but never Caslitythiam."
"I heard that the isle is difficult to reach."
"For any seafaring beings, it is. The waters around the isle are filled with some of Amathera's most dreaded beasts. The Kraken are monstrous and even make large dragons look small in comparison. Flying is the only safe option to go there."
"Why do you believe the letter's content is real?" SJ asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. If she had received a random letter, she knew she wouldn't necessarily trust it at face value.
"Because of the gift it contained," Carlito said as a perfect teardrop-shaped scale appeared in his hand. It was the size of SJ's palm, and she remembered the colour immediately. It was the same colour as Bob's scales—the iridescent blue with a coppery green undertone.
"What does it signify?"
"The scale of an ancient is a rare gift. There is no greater gift a dragonkin can be given. Within my kind, it holds more sway than strength alone. It means that I fall under the protection of the ancient one. If any other dragonkin ever went against me, it would grant me the protection of the ancient one himself. It holds no meaning to non-dragonkin, but to me, it is a treasure I had never expected to receive. On accepting this gift, I also accepted his wishes and am now bound under an ancient blood oath. Therefore, you now also fall under my protection. Our relationship is no longer just that of a sponsor and student."
The details of what had happened made SJ's head spin. That definitely explained why he was suddenly so interested in her skill development. If she was now under Carlito's protection and Bob had asked him to support her growth and development, then she wondered what it would all mean.
"What is our relationship now, then?" SJ asked, feeling bewildered.
"In the simplest terms possible, you are now my kin."
Open-mouthed shock again appeared on SJ's face. She had gone from her first meeting with Carlito, where he had been trying to kill her, to where she was now sitting opposite him in his home and discussing matters which were not only private but she could imagine were guarded secrets of his kind. It took her several moments to gather her thoughts again. Dave, by this point, was yapping away in her mind excitedly, yet she didn't hear a word of what he was saying.
"Are you not listening to me?" Dave asked forcefully.
'Sorry,' SJ thought, eventually hearing him.
"Have you not seen your notifications?"
'No.' In the process of the revelation, SJ hadn't paid anything any attention; her whole body and mind focused on one thing. What did it all mean? She opened her notifications.
Guardian
Fasquiliatieousacidulum has accepted his position as Guardian. Your blood tie is now bound under the oath of Brotuliosteryiweqmanprubloreb.
The role of a guardian can't be reversed unless the originator dies, at which point the Guardian and subject may still choose to maintain their link.
SJ stared at Carlito. "What does the position of guardian mean exactly?"
"It is an oath between us, which means that I will do what I can to help with your growth and development in the simplest of terms. It doesn't give me any power or rights over you. It is a level of trust and understanding between two beings which is greater than many oaths that you can take."
"Yep. Exactly that. It basically means that you can discuss anything you wish with Carlito and will never have any concerns over him going against you. If he disagrees with you, it will not affect any relationship. It is his way of proving his commitment to supporting you. I have never seen a Legionnaire ever be offered a guardian before. It happens within certain races, but the action alone is rare. I have never known a guardian role across races before, as they are bloodbound, but since you carry Bob's blood, I can only surmise that it is able to be done. If you ever need support, you can call Carlito to help you if you wish. He is, in another way, confirming his allegiance to you, not as a lesser or follower but as your mentor and protector if necessary."
SJ reached for the remaining nectar and knocked it back, shaking her head violently as it hit her throat again and pulling her face. It was nice but so strong.
"Would you like another?" Carlito asked.
"I really shouldn't. I need to keep a clear head," SJ said, really wanting another to help ease the absolute confusion she now felt.
Carlito placed the dragon scale between them on the table, its beautiful colours shining in the lantern light.
"Now that we are aware of everything, shall we go back to the original questions I had? Why are you still stuck at level 19, and what skills were you planning on choosing?"
SJ spent the next couple of hours discussing her progression, or lack thereof, as well as the skills she was considering adding her two additional perk points. Eventually, she confirmed that she would add them both to her advanced identification skills. Level 5 allowed for the Strength and Dexterity of a target to be known, but it was the additional choice of another subterfuge skill, which was the real reason for the choice.
Her skill tree had been triggered on accepting Advanced Identification level 5, and she could now choose either a basic initial starter skill on the subterfuge tree or specialise further in what was called neutralisation. Neutralisation was split into two distinct categories. Magical and Non-magical. Each point within each tree gave a 10% boost to her basic skills against classes and beasts which fell within those branches. It didn't increase damage, but the boosts to cooldown timers or similar could be the difference between winning and losing fights.
The basic subterfuge branch skills she could choose were the same as before:
Disguise – You can become the unknown. At early levels, basic appearance can be altered slightly, obscuring the vision and mind of those looking at you. Did they see a dwarf or a kobold? At higher levels, clothing can be adjusted to hide in the crowd. (Base attribute Charisma – counter Wisdom)
Charm – A good assassin can work their way into the hearts of their enemy before presenting them with their death. At level one, you may charm that vendor for a better deal. At level ten, rulers will be at your beck and call. (Base attribute Charisma – counter Intelligence)
Discovery – Increased identification and reduced chance of being detected by analysing another. Reduces willpower adjustments by five per level. At level ten, no one will ever know you are watching them. (Base attribute Intelligence – counter Wisdom)
Infiltration – Having control of your emotions is vital. Infiltration allows you to naturally present as a person expects, following their mannerisms and beliefs, hiding your thoughts from being visible. Successful application will last for twenty-four hours. At level ten, you can sit with your most hated enemy, laughing at their jokes while plotting their demise, and they will never know what is going on inside your mind. (Base attribute Charisma – counter Intelligence)
SJ really liked Disguise, but with her dress-altering capability already, it seemed a waste currently. Discovery was nice, but as long as she was careful with her identification, she could probably avoid most issues. The two other choices were the main ones she needed to consider. Charm or Infiltration. They both had positives to them and were similar with subtle sounding differences. The difference between the two skills was that looking into more details, Charm was a passive skill, so it was always active, and Infiltration required activation.
"I am torn about which new skill to choose," SJ said.
"There is no immediate rush. I suggest you consider your interactions so far and then choose the option that best suits you now. I am sure that you will gain more soon enough," Carlito said.
